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NESTING OF THE ORANGE-CHEEKED WAXBILL.


f Sponcgin tli us melpodus).


By Rosie Alderson.


It is with much pleasure that I write about mv little Orange-

cheeked Waxbills rearing their young ones, because they were

bred in a cage , not in the open aviary ; and this, I think, should

be a great encouragement to those who have only a limited space

in which to keep their birds. My pair of Orange-cheeks cost

5/6, and came from Mr. R. Green, of Covent Garden, from whom

I also obtained my breeding Lavender Finches.


It was in April, 1898, that they arrived, in perfect condition

and plumage, and I turned them loose in an aviary with other

small birds as companions. Since then the Orange-cheeks have

made many nests, but this is the first year that they have

successfully brought off their young ones.


I have no notes about them the year they arrived, but

during 1899 they were very busy making nest after nest (chiefly

of hay or grass stems) on the floor. They began in April, and

must have made about six nests ; but it was not until the end of

June that I knew for certain there were any eggs. This time

there were either three or four laid, and the birds seemed to sit

well, though the} 7 always flew off the nest when I went into the

aviary. They are such nervous little birds, and directly I entered

a little red beak would come peeping out, and in a moment the

bird would fly off the nest, only to return when I had gone. But

this nest that promised well was a failure like the others, I do not

know why.


Next year (1900) it was the same thing over again. Three or

four nests were built, and each time the birds were disturbed or

deserted. In one egg I found a fully formed young bird. I could

see its beak, eyes, and even some dark spots in its throat. The

third year passed and still no young ones ; and I determined

that, all being well, another season we would find some means of

doing better.


Last April my brave little birds began to build again, and

as usual the nest was disturbed at once, this time by a Bronze

Mannikin. I felt very indignant, and decided I would catch up

the Orange-cheeks and cage them. They could do no worse in

a cage than they had done already, and at least they would be

undisturbed. I have several large wooden cages let out of the

walls of the aviary. Though it makes the outside shape of the



